hildreth



S. E. HILDRETH. Metal-PlaningM-aqhine.

n iin asses j' j/ i r W, a 2.4 gm! jjflL/M UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

SAMUEL E. HILDRETH, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR ()F ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO DAVID W. POND, 0F SAME PLACE.

,METAL-PLANING MACHINE.

, SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 224,534, dated February 17, 1880.

Application filed October 25, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be itknown that I, SAMUEL E. HILDRETH, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Planing Machines; and I declare the following to he a description of my said invention, sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a front view of such parts of a planer mechanism as are necessary to illustrate the nature of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the frictional feed devices with the face-plate removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line w 90, showing the ends of the friction devices; and Fig. 4: is a central section on liney y, Fig. l.

This invention relates to the peculiar construction of frictional feed devices employed in metal-planing machines for operating the parts which carry the cutting-tool to a proper position for taking therequired chip or shaving from the work; and it consists in a planerieed-operating mechanism having parts constructed and arranged in the peculiar manner hereinafter described.

This invention is applicable to planingmachines of ordinary construction; and it will be understood that such parts of the machine as are not herein shown and described may be I constructed, arranged, and operated in the 35 usual or any suitable manner.

In the drawings, A denotes the frame of the machine. B indicates the shaft by which the feeding devices and t able driving gear are operated, and 0 indicates the pitman or rod by means of which the rack and feed gears are actuated to move the tool supporting head. D indicates a hub or friction head rigidly fixed to the end of the shaft B and having a plain-smooth surface at its periphery. Said head D is surrounded by a circular casing or disk-wheel, E, the latter being centrally supported to turn freely on the shaft B or on a projecting part, 01, at the back of the head D.

Surrounding and fitting the periphery of the head D is a flexible metallic band, F, having its ends f f, which nearly meet each other and are set outward and backward, supported by the ends of flat steel springs H H, the opposite ends of which are secured to the flange or rim of the casing-wheel E. Said springs press the ends of the flexible band F toward each other, and cause said band to hug the surface of the head D.

.A spindle or stud, I, having a cross-head, i, is arranged through a suitable journal-bearing, e, formed in aradial position through the rim of case E, the cross-head i occupying a position between the ends f f, the faces of which are parallel with each other, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 From the outer end of the stud I an armor lever, 1, extends back at a right angle, or nearly so, and is arranged to engage with the lugs or stop-pieces K, attached to a projecting portion, A, of the frame A.

Set-screws L L are arranged in the rim of the case E, with their ends pressing on the backs of the springs H, for adjusting the tension of said springs.

A face-plate, E, is bolted to the front of the case E, which covers and securely incloses the friction-head D, band F, and springs H, and protects them completely from the entrance of chips and dust to the working parts. On the front of the pl ate E is arranged the dovetailed guideways m, which retain the adjustable crank-pin and screw mechanism by which the rod 0 is attached and its movement regulated.

The operation is as follows: When the arm I is free the force of the springs H causes the flexible band F to embrace the head -D, creating sufficient friction to move the disk or casing wheel E and parts connected therewith. The shaft B, revolving, carries the part E with it until the arm 1 strikes one of the stop-lugs K, which, by retarding the end of said arm, oscillates the stud I, causing the cross-head c to assume an inclined position between the ends ff of the band F, overcoming the force of the springs H and effecting the expansion of said band, so as to release its frictional contact with the surface of the head D, and ar resting the movement of the disk-wheel E, while the shaft and head continue their movement without strain or drag of the frictionsurfaces. When the motion of the shaft B is reversed the arm I ceases to press the lug K, the springs again close the friction-band, and the wheel E is moved back until the arm 1 strikes the opposite lug K, when, by an opposite angular position of the cross-head i, the friction is again released.

By constructing and arranging the parts as described a very powerful frictional contactis obtained, which is instantly released at the proper moment. The band F being flexible fits closely the periphery of the head D, while its efficiency is not injuriously affected by wear of the cou tact-surfaces.

The power of the clutch can be very nicely adjusted by means of the screws L, and the device is thus enabled to feed forward the tool with a longer and more positive action than is attained with the frictional feed devices in common use, while all of the Wearing parts, being completely inclosed from dust and chips, are rendered very durable and are not subject to accidental derangement.

I do not herein make claim, broadly, to the feature of a peripheral friction device released by the action of an arm striking a stop, as I am aware that such feature in a differentlyconstructed mechanism has heretofore been employed in a metal-planing machine.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a feed mechanism for metal-planing machines, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the shaft-head D, with peripheral friction-surface, the flexible friction-band F, the springs H H, the wheel or disk E, and the relieving-stud l, with crosshead 45, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a feed-mechanism for metal planing machines, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the shaft B, with head D, the casing wheel or disk E, with closefitting face-plate E, the flexible friction-band F, with outward-turned ends f f, the curved springs H H, the adjusting-screws L L, the relieving-stud I, with head 'i and arm I, and the stops or lugs K K, constructed and operating as set forth.

Witness my hand this 22d day of September, A. D. 1879.

' SAMUEL E. HILDRETH. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, S. 1%. BARTON. 

